Binh Duong on track for first V-League title

Binh Duong maintained their nine-point V-League lead with a 2-0 win over minnows Dong Thap on home turf at Go Dau Stadium on June 10.

Halida Thanh Hoa and Da Nang kept pace with the leaders as both claimed 2-1 wins. The northern side, Thanh Hoa, were at home against struggling Khatoco Khanh Hoa while the central side, Da Nang, was away to middle-table TMN Sai Gon Port in HCM City.

Nguyen Anh Duc headed home a pair to give hosts Binh Duong, who won the V-League”s first stage which ended two weeks ago, their 10th victory of the season.

The host team took charge of the game from the early minutes with their strikers keeping visiting keeper Bui Tan Truong busy.

National team member Luong Trung Tuan set up a Duc header that found the back of the net 22 minutes into the game.

National striker Phan Thanh Binh appeared to have the equaliser for Dong Thap but the referee waved off his goal for tackling a defender from behind.

Twenty-two-year-old Nguyen Vu Phong, who scored the winning goal for Viet Nam against Indonesia during an Olympic qualifier last week in Ha Noi, inspired Duc”s second goal. Phong”s free kick was on target and Duc headed it home from long range.

Double defending champions Dong Tam Long An also posted an impressive 4-1 win away to Huda Hue at Tu Do Stadium. Long An, who are bidding to win a record third title in a row, moved into fourth place on 22 points, one behind Da Nang and two off Thanh Hoa.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who were dethroned two years ago by Long An, also kept alive their hopes for a third title with a convincing 4-1 win over powerhouses Binh Dinh at home in Pleiku.

The Centre Highland team moved up two places to fifth on 20 points while Binh Dinh, now on 19 points, slid down to sixth from fourth.

Former champions Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) moved up a step to seventh with a narrow 1-0 win over DPM Nam Dinh who went down to eighth from sixth on 17, a point behind SLNA.

Sai Gon Port and Ha Noi ACB share the ninth place with 16 points each.

Ha Noi ACB and Hoa Phat Ha Noi played to a 2-2 draw in the Ha Noi derby last Saturday, the early match of the weekend.

Hoa Phat now have 15 points and share the 11th spot with Khanh Hoa.

Dong Thap dropped to next to bottom after a defeat last night, their sixth of the season.

Hue maintain on the basement with 11 points after suffering their ninth loss, staying three points off Dong Thap.

The V-League will have more action next weekend before taking a summer break as national team members play for Viet Nam in the Asian Cup qualifiers. Viet Nam, one of the tourney”s hosts, are in group B which also includes Japan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Asian Cup”s other hosts are Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

VNS